KNOXVILLE -- A former Knoxville criminal court judge is challenging the state's move to revoke his pension after a federal conviction on charges he lied to cover up a scheme that provided him with painkillers and sex.

The Knoxville News Sentinel (http://bit.ly/103r97Z) reports that Richard Baumgartner argued in his appeal that his retirement can only be rescinded if his crimes were related to his "official" duties as a judge. He says the federal case did not deal with his conduct in an official capacity.

Baumgartner also pleaded guilty to state charges of misconduct and left the bench in 2011 but kept his retirement and avoided jail time. An investigation found he had obtained prescription painkillers from felons in his court.